Folding ladder and chair.



M. A. BREWER.

FOLDING LADDER AND CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I3, 1914.

' Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L (31402444701 MI W alike $44043 THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co, WASHINGTON, u, c

M. A. BREWER. FOLDING LADDER AND CHAIR. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 1914.

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Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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FOLDING LADDER AND CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Application filed August 13, 1914. Serial No. 856,674.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MOULTRE A. BREWER, citizen of the United States, residing at Griffin, in the county of Spalding and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Ladders and Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combination articles of furniture designed to be properly folded or extended and temporarily latched in the desired position as the occasion may require.

As the principal object, this invention contemplates the provision of an extensible folding article of furniture which may be properly manipulated to produce a chair, a step-ladder and a leaning or extension ladder.

It is also a particular object to provide a folding article of furniture of the type mentioned which shall embody such compactness of form and shape as to economically dispose of the space at hand. 7

An object of equal importance with the foregoing is to construct a folding ladder and chair of the character described with regard to proportion, number and arrangement of parts so that the device will be cheaply manufactured as well as durable and eflicient in all of its operations.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment ofmy invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which like characters of reference designate similar parts: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the device as folded and as in use for performing the office of a chair. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device partially eX- tended to form a step ladder. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device fully extended to form the usual style .of leaning ladder.

Fig. a is a detail section illustrating the latching mechanism for the chair type.

In taking up the description of the drawings, the device may be considered as being composed of four sections, designated by the letters A, B, C and D, each of which is successively pivoted to the following section by means of the respective rods 5, 6 and 7 in such manner, as illustrated in Fig. 3, that the sections A and C abut when the device is fully extended and the section B overlaps the joint of these two sections interiorly while the section D is exteriorly pivoted on the preceding section C. Each section con sists of parallel longitudinal frame members 8 connected at spaced intervals with suitable transverse rungs or steps which in the sections B, C and D take the form of steps 9 such as are commonly used in the ordinary step ladder while the rungs of the section A which is greater in length than the sum of the lengths of the other three sections are formed as shown with the square surfaces 10 and the oppositely disposed arcuate connecting surface 11, the former being used when the section A constitutes part of a ladder while the rounded portions 11 serve as the back of the chair.

When the device is to be set up for use as a chair as illustrated in Fig. 1, the section A is vertically positioned as shown, the section B is swung on its pivot 5 to a position essentially horizontal, the section C which is of suflicient height to properly form the front legs of the chair is also positioned vertically and the remaining section D which is not used in this embodiment is folded back upon the pivot 7 between the seat 12 and the section B resting upon a rung 13 in contact with the frame 8 of the latter section curved catches 13 embracing this rung. lhe seat 12 which is used only when the device is embodied into a. chair is formed of a rectangular piece 14 which is pivotally supported in relation to the back section A by means of the metal strap 15 and has its rearward end adapted to seat between the properly spaced brackets 16 secured in pairs upon the proper face of the frame members 8 of the section A. Adjacent the forward edge, the

v 18 is provided which is hollowed to receive the slidable plunger 19 having a head 20 working through a suitable slot 21 formed in the under portion of the casing 18. The plunger has a rounded front portion 22 and is normally pressed at its outermost limit of movement by the expansible coiled spring 23,

in order to removably engage a slotted keeper 24L angularly bent as at 25 and centrally secured upon the step 9 of the section C all as illustrated in detail in Fig. 4.

When it is desired to transform the herein disclosed article of furniture from its embodiment as a chair into a step ladder, the seat 12 is swung upwardly after the latch 19 has been disengaged from its keeper, and the sections I), C and B are folded outwardly in the order named to constitute one side of the ladder and the whole device is then inverted and set up as shown in Fig. 2. In this position the parts are removably connected by means of latches 26 which are pivoted in horizontally alined pairs upon the middle portion of the frame B and the lower portion of the frame C and are held in their correct position by keepers 27 so that the first pair engages the upper portion of the section C and the second pair engages the upper portion of the section D. As a further securing means, there are provided L-shaped members 28 which are secured in suitable recesses upon the inner portion of the various sections and engage in notches 29. The customary upper top or seat 30 is secured between the frame members of the section B at their upper extremities and angularly disposed thereto so as to be horizontal when the device is used as a step ladder. In this embodiment the seat 12 hangs down on its pivoting straps 15 clearly out of the way and a latch 31 is pivoted to the section A to suitably engage a keeper 32 secured at the appropriate point of the section B as is customary in order to prevent spreading of "the legs of the step ladder here formed by the section A upon one hand, and the sections B, C and D upon the other.

In order to use the device as an extension ladder, the latch 31 is released from its keeper and the section A swung about the pivot 5 until it is alined with the remaining sections, the latched rigidity of which is not disturbed. An L-shaped member 33 secured near the extremity of the section A suitably engages in a notch 34 similar to the notches 29 in order to limit the swinging movement of the frame A and a pair of latches 35 pivoted to the section B are properly swung on their pivots to engage their keepers 36 to hold the section A in its extended position and the device is now securely positioned to act as does an ordinary leaning ladder.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that an extensible and folding article of furniture has been disclosed which fully accomplishes the objects and aims of this invention as previously set forth and accordingly that this invention may be claimed as possessing the advantages and desirabilities obvious from the attainment of such objects. While in the foregoing however, I have thus illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire to emphasize the fact that I may make such minor changes in the matters of proportion and degree, in later adaptations of my device as shall not alter the spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is: 4

1. In a device of the character described, a plurality of jointed sections pivoted to a single section, of a length equal to the sum of the lengths of the jointed sections, and means for forming all of said sections into a chair, a step ladder, and an extension ladder respectively.

2. In a device of the character described, a plurality of jointed sections pivoted to a single section, of a length equal to the sum of the lengths of the jointed sections, means for forming all of said sections into a chair, a step ladder, and an extension ladder respectively, and separably coacting means for removably latching said sections in their respective positions.

3. In combination, an elongated frame, a plurality of jointed frames pivoted to the first said frame, means for removably connecting said jointed frames rigidly together, latching means interposed between first said frame and one of said jointed frames for relatively positioning the two, and means for securing first said frame in alinement with said jointed frames after the releasing of said latching means.

4. Ina device of the character described, an elongated frame, a seat pivotally secured centrally to said frame, a plurality of jointed frames pivotally connected to the first-mentioned frame, means for removably positioning said seat upon one of said jointed frames, means for removably holding said seat in said position, and means for forming all of said sections into a chair, a stepladder and an extension ladder, respectively.

5. In a device of the character described, a plurality of jointed sections pivoted to a single section, of a length equal to the sum of the lengths of the jointed sections, means ably securing said seat to said jointed seefor forming all of said sections into a chair, tion. 10 a step ladder, and an extension ladder, re- In testimony whereof I alfix my signature spectively, means for removably latching in presence of two Witnesses.

said sections in their respective positions, a MOULTRE A. BREWER.

seat pivotally secured to said single section Witnesses:

and adapted to rest at times upon one of Q. W. Anwoon,

said jointed sections, and means for remov- S. J. VIRDEN.

@opies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01' Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

